eddy magazine november 2015

The Innovation Issue

The Innovation Issue

More Inside:: : Japanese Urban Gardens

: : Innovations in Conservation – Seed Banking

: : Reducing Food Waste – Start in Your Own Kitchen

: : Flooding the Basement On Purpose!

: : My Zero-Waste Wedding

: : eddy Calendar

C o n n e c t i n g p e o p l e t o t h e r i v e r

Volume 5, Issue 4 | November/December/January 2015-16 A P U B L I C A T I O N O F R I V E R A C T I O N , I N C . w w w . r i v e r a c t i o n . o r g

Non Profit Org.US Postage

PAIDMontezuma, IAPermit No. 30

The River We Live ByThe beautiful photography of Heidi Brandt featured in the 2016

Calendar “Where Art Meets the River” says it in a way I cannot. Horace wrote, “A picture is a poem without words.” Agreed. In Heidi’s words, “I love to photograph the Quad Cities and especially the Mississippi River. If I can use my photos to benefit an organization that protects my favorite subject matter it’s a win for everyone.” If you share these sentiments, and admire Heidi’s photography, please see the ad featured in this magazine and the membership form on the back page to acquire a calendar. Her art is also on display at Bucktown Center for the Arts, Davenport.

In October, our Mississippi River Conference “The River Connecting Us” featured stakeholders who addressed the critical needs of the river we live by. Keynote speaker, James Patchett, Conservation Design Forum, spoke to the need of green infrastructure in our cities in the face of an uncertain climate. We also examined floodplains and restoring them for people and nature. We live on an iconic river many want to visit, so we explored the river’s impact on tourism and the GeoTourism Project currently being initiated by National Geographic. Rounding out discussions on water quality was William Stowe, Des Moines Water Works, who updated his audience on the current lawsuit filed against three drainage districts in north central Iowa, the headwaters of the Raccoon River; citing the need to enforce the federal Clean Water Act, he described regulating drinking water protection in agricultural watersheds. The Raccoon River is the municipality’s source of water and ultimately flows into the Mississippi at Wapello, Iowa.

In the Student Summit, held within the conference, Larry Lockwood, Native American Coalition, highlighted the meaning of nature’s symbols and the ways Native Americans cared for the river; Mark Schweibert, former Mayor of Rock Island, challenged students with opportunities for civic engagement. Keynote speaker, Father Bud Grant, St. Ambrose University, referenced the Pope’s Encyclical on Climate Change with his address “Ecolibrium: Finding Balance on a Spinning Planet.”

Following the conference, we at River Action were inspired to write about how the river is evolving through innovations in science and practice: in Milwaukee the saving of stormwater from rivers and streams by using abandoned basements became “Flooding the Basement on Purpose.” Japanese gardening inspires comparison to ours, saving seeds is a way to be innovative in reestablishing native prairies, and creating a bridge district is a way of creating economic development on our riverfront.

In this issue we hope to reveal that the Mississippi is not only the river we live by, it is also the river we stand by and work by.

November/December/January 2015-16 Volume 5 Issue 4

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KATHY WINE, Publisher / Executive DirectorBETH CLARK, Managing Editor, Milepost Ventures, Inc. JEFF VanECHAUTE/pi design, inc., DesignEILEEN SIPES, Calendar EditorContributing Writers

TIM CHAMBERS, River Action Staff EILEEN SIPES, River Action StaffKATHY WINE, River Action StaffNATHAN SIPES, River Action StaffKATE KREMER, River Action StaffSTEPHANIE DRAGO, River Action StaffCHRISTINE POWERSOLIVIA DOROTHY

Contributing Photographers/PhotographsANDY BARCUSMARK PALAZZOCRAIG ALLEN

Printing ServicesSUTHERLAND PRINTING

© eddy Magazine and River Action, Inc., all rights reserved, 2015-16. Reproduction in any form, in whole or in part, without express, written permission, is prohibited. The views expressed herein, whether expressed as fact, fiction, opinion, advice or otherwise are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the ownership or management of this magazine. This magazine is sold with the understanding that neither it, nor River Action, Inc., its owners or managers, are engaged in rendering legal, accounting, tax, medical, technical, or any other advice, professional or otherwise. The publication of any advertisement does not reflect the endorsement of any products or services by the ownership or management of this magazine unless it is specifically stated in such advertisement and there is written approval for such endorsement. Those submitting manuscripts, photographs, artwork or other material to eddy Magazine for consideration should not send originals. Unsolicited manuscripts, photographs and other submitted materials must be accompanied by a self addressed, postage paid envelope in return of materials is requested. Return of materials is not guaranteed. eddy Magazine is published quarterly by River Action, Inc., 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803 and is direct mailed to approximately 6,000 area homes and businesses.

eddy MagazinePublished by River Action, Inc.822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803563-322-2969www.riveraction.org

To Advertise: Contact Beth Clark 309-269-3455 or contact Deb Girard at [email protected]. For rates, ad dimensions and deadline information email [email protected]

To Subscribe or become a member of River Action: call 563-322-2969 or visit www.riveraction.org

Kathy Wine

[On the cover: Side entrance view of Tokyo’s “office farm”, the Pasona 02 Building. Photo courtesy of Kono Design; photographer: Toshimichi Sakaki.]

November/December/January 2015-16 | eddy Magazine 3

O u r M i s s i o n :River Action strives to foster the environmental, economic, and cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront in the Quad City region.

P U B L I S H E R ’ S L E T T E R

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

4 River Action Updates

4 Floatzilla: Drone captures first picture of Floatzilla

4 Taming of the Slough Update

4 Call for eddy Nominations

5 Save These Dates!, by Eileen Sipes

7 Innovations!

7 Innovations in Conservation – Seed Banking, by Tim Chambers

7 Reducing Food Waste – Start in Your Own Kitchen!, by Kate Kremer

8 Reclaiming the Future by Rebuilding the Past, by Kate Kremer

10 My Zero-Waste Wedding by Olivia Dorothy

11 Ocean Clean-Up, by Nathan Sipes

11 Flooding the Basement, On Purpose! by Kathy Wine

12 Japanese Urban Gardening by Stephanie Drago

13 Book Review: The Sixth Extinction by Christine Powers

13 eddy Calendar: November, December, January by Eileen Sipes

RIVER AC TION UPDATE

Working at River Action for 31 years has introduced us to a

lot of courageous, innovative and determined people. The Eddy award is built around themes long familiar with River Action and eddy Magazine readers. It is all part of the same passion; see a need, fill the need.

Do you know someone (individual, organization, company, school, or government) who has done outstanding riverfront activity in the field of art - be it performance, the written word, or fine arts - or developed a beautiful design in the field of renovation, new buildings, or livability? It can be an innovation in the field of educational programming or curriculum, or revitalization of river commerce, business, and/or industry. In the areas of river activity, it might be recreation or relaxation. Or, your nominee might excel in stewardship or environmental enhancement of the river. In 2016, the 17th Annual Eddy Awards will honor inspiration and persistence by recognizing those moving against the current, as in an eddy, to get things done on the Mississippi River.

Nominations are being accepted at riveraction.org until January 25, 2016; announcement of winners will be at Fish and Fire, River Action's Earth Day celebration, April 22, 2016.

eddy AwardNominations

Eric Nordstrom winner of Men’s Individual Division of 2015 Taming of the Slough. Photo: Andy Barcus

4 eddy Magazine | www.riveraction.org

Taming of the Slough

Floatzilla, August 2015First photo of Floatzilla captured from a drone. Photo: Mark Palazzo and Craig Allen

First place in each division:

Youth Division: Brennan Harrington Men’s Individual: Eric Nordstrom Women’s Individual: Cheryl Dralle Men’s 2-Person Team: Corey Turner and

Matt Hyser Women’s 2-Person Team: Melaine

Whitchelo and Cheryl TrueCo-Ed 2-Person Team: John Peterson and

Rebecca Peterson Men’s 3-Person Team: Brandan Cochran,

Jeremiah Johnson and Andy Brown Women’s 3-Person Team: Dianna Brevitt,

Barb Cura and Bre BrevittCo-Ed 3-Person Team: Dan Howard,

Mike Hunter and Monica Blair Corporate Challenge: Russell Construction –

Mike Ernster, Joe Troness, and Joe Payne


RIVER AC TION UPDATE

This year’s Henry Farnam Dinner will focus on the

200th Anniversary of Fort Armstrong. Kris Leinicke, from the Rock Island Arsenal Museum, will talk about the Centennial Celebration in 1916. The main speaker for the evening will be Dr. Samuel Watson, Professor of History at the United States Military Academy, West Point. He is the

author of two books on the Army on the Frontier, “Jackson’s Sword: The Army Officer Corps on the American Frontier, 1810-1821” and “Peacekeepers and Conquerors: The Army Officer Corps on the American Frontier, 1821-1846.” Dr Watson will speak about the Army presence at Fort Armstrong and how that Army impacted the local area, as well as regional and national impact not only in warfare, but also in creating stability and working to expand trade.

January 8-10 Visit River Action’s Booth at Bald Eagle Days, QC Expo Center, Rock Island, IL

January 25 Deadline for Eddy Award Submissions

March 18 Henry Farnam Dinner, Rogalski Center, St. Ambrose University, Davenport, IA

April 22 Fish & Fire Fundraiser & Friendraiser – Earth Day Activities

Memorial Day to Labor Day Channel Cat Talks & Riverine Walks

June 19 Ride the River Father’s Day Bicycle Ride

August 20 Floatzilla Canoe & Kayak Floatilla

September 8 Senior Citizen Riverfront Golf Cart Tour

September 17 Taming of the Slough Mississippi River Adventure Race

October (TBD) Upper Mississippi River Conference

October (TBD) Annual Tweed Ride

Save the Dates!

Henry Farnam Dinner— by Eileen Sipes


FEATURE STORY

Reducing Food Waste –

Start In Your Own Kitchen — by Kate Kremer

As California enters its fourth year of record-breaking drought, even those of us who live far from its dry lakebeds and charred forests must

reckon with water shortages. Although we may not yet have seen significant increases in food prices—due in part to farmers’ redistribution of the scarce resource from field crops such as rice and cotton to more lucrative (and in many cases, less water-efficient) food crops such as almonds, walnuts, and berries—we must recognize that the water supply is finite. As the drought continues, as the population of the world increases, and as people around the world continue to go hungry, food waste becomes an economic, environmental, and a moral issue.

It’s an issue that the United States in particular must begin to address, given that as much as 40 percent of our food goes to waste. In light of this, researchers at Drexel University, the University of Pennsylvania, Cabrini College, and the EPA have piloted an innovative food-waste reduction program in West Philadelphia.

According to the US Botanical Garden three out of every ten

plant species in the United States is threatened and once more information about plant populations is gathered by scientists this number is likely increase dramatically. The International Union for Conservation of Nature suggests the flora of the United States is the fourth most threatened flora in the world, with 29% of its 16,108 plant species at risk of becoming extinct by 2050. Given these grim statistics, how do we go about conserving those plant species that are integral in maintaining human existence?

Institutions, such as botanic gardens, state and federal agencies, and other conservation organizations employ two approaches to plant conservation, ex situ and in situ. In situ means “on-site”, therefore in situ conservation is the conservation of plants within their natural habitats and ecosystems. In order conserve plants in the natural habitats we have to increase our efforts to protect those lands plants occupy. We can accomplish this type of conservation by protecting existing natural reserves, expanding the network of natural parks and preserves, and by establishing more conservation easements with private landowners. Ex situ conservation, on the other hand, is the conservation of plants species “off-site”. Off-site conservation can be accomplished by establishing living collections of rare and endangered plants at botanical gardens away from the plants natural setting. These plants can then be used to repopulate areas in the face of extinction. Another method is seed banking. In

Drexel students collected thousands of pounds of produce from local supermarkets, which throw out bruised or overripe fruits and vegetables. The students then transformed the food into more appealing products such as salsas, soups, breads, smoothies, and banana ice cream (see recipe below!).

In one month of the program, 35,000 pounds of produce were diverted from the landfill. Some of that was wholesaled back to supermarkets; some was donated to

seed banks collections of plant seeds are dried and stored at sub-zero temperatures, in a state of suspended animation. Seeds dried and then stored hermetically at freezing temperatures can maintain viability for hundreds

and even thousands of years. These stored seeds become the building blocks to reestablish plant populations in the wild or the raw materials for ecological restoration. Given the many threats to our natural systems, methods of ex situ and in-situ conservation should be designed and practiced to reinforce and complement each other.

You may have already heard about the Svalbard Global Seed Bank in Norway, located in the permafrost, 1300 kilometers beyond the Arctic

Circle, or the Millennium Seed Bank in London; however I bet you are not aware of efforts in the US to bank seeds of the US Flora. Seeds of Success or SOS is the national native seed collection and seed bank program, led by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in partnership with a variety of federal agencies and non-federal organizations. SOS’s mission is to collect wildland native seed for research, development, conservation, and ecosystem restoration. Private partners include the Chicago Botanic Garden, the Mid-Atlantic Regional Seed bank, New England Wildflower Society, the San Diego Zoo, North Carolina Botanic garden, and many others. If you are visiting Chicago, make a trip to the Botanic Gardens to see what the Dixon National Tallgrass Prairie Seed bank is doing to preserve plant species in the region and the tallgrass prairie biome, one of earth’s most endangered habitats.

community food shelters. Were the program applied nationally, an estimated 1.1 billion pounds of food could be saved.

But in the meantime, there are dozens of ways to reduce food wasted in your own home. Composting is one solution; cutting down on food scraps before they even leave the kitchen is another. Consider the following easy—and delicious—tips:

• Every few days, take an inventory of the contents of your refrigerator, and put all the foods that need to be consumed immediately on a particular shelf. That way, when members of your household go to plan a meal or look for a snack, they’ll know what to use first.

• Peel oranges with a potato peeler and freeze the zest to use later in baked goods or as a topping for yogurt.

• If life gives you bruised bananas, make ice cream! Peel and freeze bananas and then blend them until creamy, and you’ve got a perfect afternoon snack!

Orange peel, salvaged and frozen, to be used in any recipe that calls for zest.

Seed of Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum Virginianum).

Innovations in Conservation –

Seed Banking— by Tim Chambers

FEATURE STORY

The view from the River Heritage Park Rotary Club Pavilion commemorating the signing of the 1832 Black Hawk Treaty. Photo by Kate Kremer.


A plaque at 217 E 2nd Street in Davenport could easily go unnoticed—wedged between inviting storefronts, its pale green patina obscuring its terse script, it commemorates one of

Davenport’s most prominent one-time residents—and his owner. “On this site,” the plaque reads, “was located the home of John Emerson, Post-Surgeon at Fort Armstrong, and of his famous slave, Dred Scott.”

Less than a half mile northeast is River Heritage Park, a narrow slice of greenspace between river and railroad that the City of Davenport is currently renovating. The site of the 1832 signing of the Blackhawk Treaty, the park at present is almost as inconspicuous as the plaque, and is accessible only via the Mississippi River Trail.

Across the street—though hidden beneath billboards and undergrowth—stands the 1856 railroad berm which once supported the first railroad bridge across the Mississippi River, which was the focus of two successive court cases, and which directly facilitated the construction of the transcontinental railroad—and indirectly, the start of the Civil War.

All within a half-mile circle of Davenport, these three sites are currently hidden and underutilized. However, River Action’s First Bridge Project and the concomitant renovation of River Heritage Park have the potential to rescue them from obscurity and to establish this area as an innovative, multi-focal historical district of truly national significance.

Together, these sites paint a startling portrait of Davenport’s prominence as a gateway to the west during the period of U.S. territorial expansion, and its role in the escalation of tensions between north and south in the lead-up to the Civil War. Though brief, the Black Hawk War was significant. Fought in 1832 between U.S. government forces—including Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis—and a coalition of Native American tribes led by Chief Black Hawk, this war marked the end of Native American armed resistance to U.S. expansion in the Northwest Territory (the present-day northern Midwest). It also gave impetus to the policy of Indian removal, or forcible relocation of Native Americans from their native lands to lands west of the Mississippi.

In 1836, just a few years after the signing of the Black Hawk Treaty, then slave, Dred Scott and his owner, John Emerson, moved to Davenport. Dred Scott based his 1846 suit for freedom on this period of his life, spent in the free state of Illinois and the Iowa District of Wisconsin territory. Scott stood on firm legal ground: a precedent dating back to 1824 held that slaves freed through prolonged residence in a free state would remain free upon returning to slave territory. In 1857, however, the Supreme Court overturned that precedent, ruling in Dred Scott v. Sandford that African

Americans had no claim to freedom or citizenship and, as private property, could not be taken from owners without due process. The sense of fury and injustice following the Dred Scott ruling fueled the abolitionist movement and set the stage for the Civil War.

Meanwhile, in 1837—just a year after Dred Scott’s residence in the city—Lt. Robert E. Lee completed the topographical survey of this portion of the river that would form the basis for the Railroad Bridge Company’s decision to bridge the Mississippi between Rock Island and Davenport. This bridge was completed in 1856, much to the chagrin of steamboat interests, who sensed a turning of the transportational tide: the bridge would pave the way for the completion of the transcontinental railroad—and the end of steamboats’ dominance.

Steamboat interests were not alone in their opposition: as early as 1854, Jefferson Davis—then Secretary of War under Franklin Pierce—had also worked to forestall First Bridge. He didn’t object to the transcontinental railroad, only to its construction via a northern route, which he knew would give the north a head start in settling Nebraska and Kansas. These territories had been opened to settlement with the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, which also stipulated that white male settlers in those territories would decide the issue of slavery by popular

Reclaiming the Future by Rebuilding the Past:

Davenport’s Hidden Heritage District— By Kate Kremer

The plaque at 217 E. 2nd Street in Davenport commemorating the site where, then slave, Dred Scott lived with his owner, John Emerson. Photo by Kate Kremer.


sovereignty. So the question of a northern vs. a southern route was also one of slavery: would it, as the south hoped, be expanded? Or would it be limited and thus, as the north believed, eventually die out?

Davis’s initial injunction against the bridge was struck down in United States v. The Railroad Bridge Company, but the controversy was far from over: two weeks after it opened, the bridge was struck by the Effie Afton steamboat, which had successfully passed through the draw when its starboard engine stopped working, causing the boat to drift back on the current and hit the bridge. The boat’s passengers had all safely evacuated when a stove on the steamboat was knocked over, immolating the vessel within minutes.

When the owner of the steamboat sued the Railroad Bridge Company for damages, a young Abraham Lincoln was brought in to prove that the “accident” had in fact been malicious and intentional. During the trial, which carried Lincoln to national prominence, he argued that rails and bridges could, by binding disparate parts of the country together, ultimately help preserve the Union of the United States.

As River Action works to reconstruct this historic first bridge across the Mississippi, the bridge’s fuller significance becomes clear. More than simply catalyzing a shift in modes of transportation, First Bridge helped to precipitate a race between north and south for control of the West—a race that would culminate in a series of violent confrontations known as Bleeding Kansas and, eventually, the Civil War.

These three historic sites paint a complex and nuanced portrait of a United States still in the process of defining the boundaries of its territory and limits of its constitution and offer crucial insights into the ways in which the western territories catalyzed national conversations about race, slavery, citizenship, and belonging. We have the unique opportunity as a community to engage this history—to examine our own role in the nation’s complex past, and to build our own bridge to a more peaceful and equal future.


My Zero Waste WeddingAll of my diplomas say “environmental” somewhere in my

degree title, which is why, at most weddings, while in the midst of celebrating, I always stop at some point to cringe

absolute massive amount of garbage that is generated during a typical American wedding.

So, when my now husband, Damon, proposed to me (with my grandmother’s resized engagement ring) I saw two paths. I could take my husband down to the courthouse and forgo all the festivities (you can’t have wedding waste if you don’t have a wedding!) or I could throw the cleanest, greenest wedding imaginable.

I scoured the internet and borrowed books from the library on green weddings. A lot of it was easy. No bridesmaid dresses, my ladies wore their own classy black dresses. I borrowed a wedding dress from a similarly sized friend. The groomsmen brought their own suits and Damon had an old suit altered.

We bought electronic save-the-dates, invitations, and thank you cards, which are totally worth the cost – don’t go with the free versions. And we set up a nice website that was mobile responsive and worked with GPS navigation apps.

We ordered real napkins and tableware and instructed servers not to distribute straws unless requested. We made arrangements with an organic farmer to take our table scraps after all the events. Our caterer, Fresh Deli by Nostalgia Farms, was a farm to table operation and worked with our favorite local, organic farmers to prepare fresh, wholesome food for our guests.

We gathered cloth towels from around the house for the bathrooms. We ordered a “recycle everything” bin from Terracycle, the New Jersey company dedicated to eliminating waste. All clean, inorganic garbage that couldn’t be recycled in the normal curbside program went in the Terracycle bin.

And I have never been more thankful for my high school florist job as I scavenged flowers from friends’ yards.

Here are the measurable results: Mad Farmer (received) 10 gallons of table scraps for some excitable chickens, five trays of untouched leftovers to local soup kitchen, 20 gallons of recycling for the curbside. Five gallons of compost and about 10 gallons will be shipped to Terracycle.

While I wasn’t able to achieve my zero waste goal; it was not bad for flying blind.Read Olivia’s complete article at https://sierraclubevg.wordpress.com/2015/08/16/my-zero-

waste-wedding/

Taken from an article written by Olivia Dorothy

FEATURE STORY

Have you heard of the Great Pacific garbage patch? The patch is a huge collection of small pieces of plastic and

other ocean debris located in the North Pacific Ocean between California and Japan. It was predicted in 1988 in a paper published by NOAA. It was first discovered, accidentally, by Captain Charles Moore in 1997. The patch is roughly the size of Texas.

Read Capt. Moore’s own words on this experience:

“…as I gazed from the deck at the surface of what ought to have been a pristine ocean, I was confronted, as far as the eye could see, with the sight of plastic. It seemed unbelievable, but I never found a clear spot. In the week it took to cross the subtropical high, no matter what time of day I

looked, plastic debris was floating everywhere: bottles, bottle caps, wrappers, fragments.”

Flotsam is not a new problem for the ocean. Pieces of wood, cloth and other organic material have found their way into the ocean for thousands of years. However, what is different about the current situation is that plastics are not biodegradable. They instead photodegrade, continually being broken down into smaller and smaller pieces by the sun. Creatures living in the Pacific ingest these pieces and are poisoned by the chemicals.

As one might imagine, not only would it be impossible to capture these tiny fragments in an ordinary net, it would also be very expensive. Dutch engineering student, Boyan Slat, has potentially created a viable solution to this problem. Using a V-shaped array, the

design would use the ocean currents to push plastic into a network of floating barriers, which are shallow enough to allow sea-life to easily pass beneath. A central platform would extract concentrated plastic and store it for transport.

Feasibility studies and computer models estimate that a single 60 mile cleanup array, deployed for 10 years, would passively remove 42% of the garbage patch. Extraction of the plastics is step one of The Ocean Cleanup. Step two is prevention, which works to raise awareness and keep plastic pollution out of the ocean in the first place. The third step, interception, would introduce technologies designed to reduce pollution in rivers which lead to the ocean.

To learn more about The Ocean Cleanup, visit www.theoceancleanup.com.

The Ocean CleanupPhoto Credit: The Ocean Cleanup

Flooding the Basement On Purpose! by Kathy Wine

Increasingly, large rain events cause flooding. A new tool for stormwater management, the “BaseTern”, is a basement that’s

been converted into a stormwater cistern. Milwaukee is completing what is said to be the world’s first such system.

The concept, conceived by Erick Shambarger, Milwaukee’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, is to direct stormwater to an abandoned or foreclosed property’s basement, which, after the aboveground structure is demolished, is waterproofed and filled with gravel and stormwater-harvesting cells. Each system can hold from 13,000 to 40,000 gallons of water during storms, reducing flooding in adjacent homes.

This innovative reuse, takes advantage of one urban issue—a surplus of city owned foreclosures or abandoned houses to solve another-- the flooding that is increasingly common in dense, impervious urban neighborhoods.

If the BaseTern is successful, it will be one more achievement for a city that is becoming known for water research and innovation. Last summer, the University of Wisconsin—Milwaukee opened its $53 million School of Freshwater Sciences, and in September the city became one of four new Regional Innovation Clusters established by the federal SBA to further develop new water technologies.

Shamberger sees the BaseTern as a cost-effective and replicable solution to urban flooding in any city where basements are common. “Is this the thing? Not by a long shot,” he says. “It’s a thing. It’s one tool in the tool kit we have for trying to manage stormwater in a more sustainable way.”

Street systems such as bio-swales can handle the one inch rain, but they don’t have the capacity to deal with megastorms that we worry about with climate change. These are the four to eight and above inch rains.

When a city is about to demolish a foreclosed or FEMA buyout property, it can preserve the basement structure and put it to use. This concept proves to be both sound and cost-effective.

The Milwaukee project has gained the attention of designers around the country. They are exploring interventions above ground that will bring attention to the innovative water engineering below. One, the “Splash Garden” would direct sheet flow from the street and alley into the BaseTern and expose the engineering through a series of old-fashioned hand pumps that draw water up from the basin.

Another design preserves the memory of the house, making visible with hardscape elements the house’s original footprint and limiting rain garden elements to the perimeter of the lot.

Photo by: Brett Harris, Andrew D’Arcy, Heidi Petersen.


by Nathan Sipes

FEATURE STORY


F E AT U R E S TO R Y

With the growing need, and interest, for making local food and greenspace accessible in urban areas, we are

finding new and innovative ways to incorporate gardens into city infrastructure. A fascinating case study of urban garden and greenspace innovation is happening in Japan. Due to the fact that Japan is a small, mountainous, archipelago, much of the land is not ideal for development or agriculture. The land that was suitable for development became home to highly dense cities. This high density living has forced the Japanese to get creative about how they utilize space.

With a large percentage of their produce imported, the Japanese are working with their urban landscapes to make them suitable for agriculture. Japanese city dwellers are gaining interest in rooftop gardening, along with simply growing vegetables on their apartment porch, partially due to the nuclear disaster in Fukushima, which sparked the desire to know where their food is coming from (Feng 2013). Not only are these urban garden innovations conducive to agriculture, but they are utilized to beautify the urban landscape, naturally regulate building temperatures, and decrease the heat island effect. There is also a growing need for non-agricultural greenspace, diversifying urban garden infrastructure.

One popular approach to adding greenspace is urban farming on rail station roofs across Japan. This creates functional greenspaces called “Soradofarms”, which allow the average commuter to stop at a train station on the way home, tend to his/her garden, and then continue their commute (Eidt 2014). Rooftop gardens and green roofs, like these,

have become abundant in Japan, not just on train station rooftops, but on residential and commercial buildings. In Osaka’s Namba Park (Figure 1) an extensive green roof project spans several blocks and gradually ascends eight stories, providing greenspace for tourists and city dwellers to enjoy (Eidt 2014).

Another impressive example of urban greenspace implementation is the ACROS Green Terrace in Fukuoka, Japan (Figure 2). Created in the image of a mountain, this 14 terraced green roof helps reduce energy consumption and stormwater runoff. The building utilizes 76 native species, and has a unique irrigation system, that saves water, by utilizing the downhill slope of the roof (Eidt 2014).

Last on our list is one of the most fascinating urban agriculture facilities in Japan. Located in Tokyo we find the Pasona O2 building (cover photo). This building not only acts as

an office space, but doubles as an urban farm, housing hydroponic systems, green walls, green curtains, and even a rice paddy in the lobby (Feng 2013). The Pasona O2 building is nicknamed the “office farm” and this building exemplifies Japan’s creative outlook on multiuse facilities, showing that the extra space in an office building can be used for growing food.

These innovations are wonderful examples of how we can incorporate green space on existing and new infrastructure. By looking at how much the Japanese can do with so little space, it can help inspire us to look at our communities and think about what we can do to make our cities a little greener.

References: Feng, Sophi. “Japan: ‘Office Farming’ Greens Tokyo’s Urban Jungle.” WilderUtopiacom. N.p., 29 Aug. 2013. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.; Eidt, Jack. “Landscape Urbanism: Green Roofs, Community Farms in Japan.” WilderUtopiacom. N.p., 29 Mar. 2014. Web. 24 Sept. 2015.

Eastern Innovations: Finding Inspiration in Japanese Urban Gardening Techniques

Figure 2: Namba Parks in Osaka, Japan (Photo Courtesy of: The Jerde Partnership, Inc. Design Architect; Photographer: Hiroyuki Kawano).

Figure 1: The ACROS Green Terrace of Fukuoka, Japan (Photo Courtesy of Emilio Ambasz and Associates Inc.)

By: Stephanie Drago

NovemberQuad City Audubon Society Field TripSunday, November 1, 7:30am, Lock & Dam 14 parking lot, IA side, 309-799-7192Smith’s Island. Duration: approximately 3 hours, with optional lunch and further birding at Lost Grove Lake. Quadcityaudubon.org for more information.

Breakfast Nature ClubFridays, November 6, December 4, 2015, January 8, 2016 8-9am, Nahant Marsh Ed Center, 563-323-5196Each month we will explore the characteristics and adaptations of nature. A continental breakfast with coffee, juice, and tea is included in the fee. Feel free to bring your own coffee mug or travel container. Participants are encouraged to explore the trails after the class. Binoculars are available to borrow. The fee is $7 for non-members, $5 for members. Please register online, nahantmarsh.org, or by calling ahead.

Mississippi River Distilling Company Food and Spirit TastingsFirst Friday of every month, 5:30-8pm, Downtown Le Claire, IAOn the first Friday of every month, we’ll host an open house social hour. Many of the shops stay open late and the area bars and restaurants gear up for crowds. Don’t miss it on the first Friday of the month, 12 months a year. Visit www.visitleclaire.com for more information.

e d d y C A L E N D A R

eddy CalendarHauberg Center Holiday MarketSaturday, November 7, 9am-1pm, Hauberg Center, 1528 3rd Ave, Rock Island, IL, 309-732-2132Come shop for hand-crafted items at the Historic Tulip Mansion

3rd Annual Marsh Madness Trivia NightFriday, November 13, (doors open at 6pm) 7-10pm, Knights of Columbus, Davenport, 563-336-3374 Test your trivia knowledge! Profits from the evening will go to support environmental education and conservation at Nahant Marsh. Bring your own snacks – drinks will be available at the bar. Gift baskets to bid on, and possibly take home!

How to Feed Your Winter BirdsSaturday, November 14, 9:30-11:30am, Black Hawk State Historic Site, 1510 46th Ave, Rock Island, IL Join naturalist Bob Motz who will help you identify


— by Christine Powers

I enjoy reading about different theories and perspectives that people have, especially concerning the natural

world. I was afraid this book would be too depressing for me but it turned out to be very interesting. Kolbert travelled the world in a journalistic quest to learn what the signs of extinction are, the possible causes, and what naturalists and scientists are doing to try to prevent as much loss and damage as possible for the future. Successes and failed attempts are highlighted. She contrasts historical perspectives (such as uniformitarianism) with conflicting theories of today. The premise of her book is that there have been five crises in the history of life on Earth, but a sixth one, currently taking place, is being caused by humans. Wired to explore and advance, we are disturbing the natural lives of other species. The acidity in oceans is a huge problem. The world is so rapidly and profoundly changing that other species can’t keep up. Kolbert’s recommendation is that we try to leave as many big places alone as possible so that living things can adapt.

Full of witticisms, the author amused me on several occasions and kept the thoroughly researched text readable for this non-scientist. I did not know that most people today are up to four percent Neanderthal. While it can be overwhelming for me to feel any help globally, I can most certainly focus on making a difference on what might be going extinct in my own backyard.

BOOK REVIEW

birds common to our winter feeders and show the types of foods that attract a variety of winter birds. Binoculars will be provided. The event will be held at Singing Bird Center, accessed by turning north from Blackhawk Rd./Rte. 5 on to 15th St. in Rock Island. Free. This event is sponsored by Citizens to Preserve Black Hawk Park Foundation. 309-788-9536 for more infor-mation, or www.blackhawkpark.org/upcoming

Cocoa Picasso: Migratory MayhemSaturday, November 14, 1pm, Wapsi River Center, call to pre-register 563-328-3286Discover what it’s like for migrating animals on their journeys south. See if you can make it all the way to your destination in the Wapsi original board game: Migratory Mayhem! Then, paint your own acrylic art on canvas in a guided step-by-step painting experi-ence. Enjoy complimentary hot cocoa. Cost is $5 per painting.

Quad City Audubon Society Field TripSunday, November 15, 7:30am, meet at Brothers Restaurant parking lot, Rapids City, IL, 309-799-7192Thompson Causeway. This field trip highlights migrating waterfowl. Half day with optional lunch in Thomson, IL, followed with more birding in the sur-rounding area. Another of the great bird trips of the year! Duration: half day plus. Quadcityaudubon.org

Friends of the Wapsi River Center meetingThursday, November 19, 6pm, Wapsi River Center, 31555 52nd Ave, Dixon, IA, 563-328-3286Learn about the latest news and happenings at the Wapsi River Center.

Holiday and The Classics CruiseFriday, November 20, 12noon-4pm, Celebration River Cruises, 2501 River Dr, Moline, IL, 309-764-1952Get ready for some Holiday Cheer with a family orient-ed Christmas show presented by Ray and Jane Kumor. Join them for this fabulous combination of Christmas Spirit, music and dance, complete with their favorite Christmas songs. This will be a cruise to remember as you sing and dance along to many songs, plus some appearances by some very special people from the past. Your 4 hour cruise will begin with our home-made sticky rolls with assorted fresh fruits and our freshly prepared buffet serving your Holiday favorites. Reservations are required.

Quad City Arts Festival of TreesNovember 19-20, RiverCenter, Davenport, IAUsher in the season at the area’s most popular holiday event. Festival of Trees has raised over $4 million in support of local arts since 1986. Featuring many attrac-tions including original holiday décor designed by local designers and available for purchase, continual dance and musical performances, holiday Helium Balloon Parade, holiday gift shop, children’s activity center, Gingerbread Village, raffle prizes and more! For infor-mation, visit www.quadcityarts.com/festoftrees.asp or call 563-324-3378.

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Quad City Arts Festival of Trees: Holiday ParadeSaturday, November 21, 10:15am, 130 West 2nd Street, Davenport, IA, 563-322-1706The largest helium-balloon parade in the Midwest fea-turing over 20 large helium balloons, pageant queens, dance groups, bands, clowns, floats, tractors and unique antique cars will participate in this spectacular event..

River Action’s Environmental Book ClubTuesday, November 24, 7pm, River Action office, 822

E River Dr, Davenport, IA, 563-322-2969Discuss The Long Emergency, by James Kunstler. River Action is dedicated to fostering the environmental, economic, & cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront. The book discussions are free and open to the public.

Friends of Nahant Meeting The last Wednesday of each month, 6pm, Nahant Marsh Education CenterAre you looking to get more involved at Nahant Marsh? If you would like to donate your time and energy, we will gladly welcome you! There is always the need for help in projects that FNM participate in to maintain the Marsh, and to teach others about its unique environment. Please join the Friends of Nahant Marsh at their monthly meetings (at Nahant) on the last Wednesday of the month at 6pm. Call Nahant Marsh for more information, 563-323-5196.

Pioneer Village Christmas WalkSunday, November 29, 12-4pm, Walnut Grove Pioneer Village, north of Scott County Park, Long Grove, IASanta will be in the General Store, cookies & hot drinks for sale in the Soda Fountain, Music in the church, crafts and games. Free admission with a food bank donation. Call 563-328-3283 for more information.

DecemberBird of Prey – OwlsSaturday, December 5, 1pm, Wapsi River Center, 31555 52nd Ave, Dixon, IA, 563-328-3286Join Director/Naturalist Dave Murcia for a raptor pro-gram including live birds of prey. The presentation will include biology, ecology, human impacts, and live owls!

Christmas in LeClaireDecember 4-6, Downtown Le Claire, IAChristmas in LeClaire is always a popular tradition among visitors and LeClaire residents. For more infor-mation on LeClaire visit www.visitleclaire.com.

Christmas at Augustana Saturday, December 5, 2pm & 7:30pm, Centennial Hall, 3703 7th Ave, Rock Island, IL Christmas at Augustana has thrilled, inspired and touched audiences in nearly sold-out performances over the past seven years. Three hundred student musicians share their talents in what has become a highlight of the Augustana and Quad City holiday sea-son. Featuring performances by the Augustana Brass Ensemble, Augustana Symphony Orchestra, Augustana Choir, Cantilena Augustana, Jenny Lind Vocal Ensemble and the Wennerberg Men’s Chorus, this moving holi-day concert is not to be missed! www.Augustana.edu

Christmas in the VillageFriday & Saturday, December 4 & 5, 6-9pm, Village of East Davenport, IAEnjoy family time with Santa Claus in the Village Fire House, Scrooge at the Boyler’s Building, Awkward Christmas photos ($5 charge) and Kids Crafting Center at The Village Theatre, face painting at Lagomarcino’s, Petting Zoo & Nativity Scene at Gildea’s Pocket Park (corner of Mound St and E 11th St). The Grinch, Frosty the Snowman, and Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer will be in the Village of East Davenport. “Winter Sparkle” fireworks will be on Saturday at 9pm. In-store specials throughout the weekend. www.villageofeast-davenport.com.

Winter in BloomSunday, December 6, 12-4pm, Hauberg Civic Center, 1300 24th St, Rock Island, IL, 309-732-7666Come see the Hauberg Center come alive with color and music for the holidays. There will be children’s activities, refreshments, live music, and pictures with Cinderella in the royal themed Tulip Room. This a unique experience you won’t want to miss!. Free Admission.

Gallery Hop!Friday, December 11, 6-10pm, The District, Downtown Rock Island, ILGalleries, shops, clubs and restaurants offer a variety of visual and performing arts. Presented in conjunction with MidCoast Fine Arts, The ARTery and Quad City Arts. Free Admission. RIDistrict.com

Natural Wreath WorkshopSaturday, December 19, 9am, Wapsi River Center, 31555 52nd Ave, Dixon, IA, 563-328-3286Come make your own natural wreath using grape-vines. Visitors are invited to bring items to adorn their own wreath (seeds, nuts, berries, dried flowers or grasses). Please call to reserve your spot as supplies may be limited.

Cocoa Picasso: Snow ScienceSaturday, December 19, 1pm, Wapsi River Center, 31555 52nd Ave, Dixon, IA, 563-328-3286Have you ever wondered what else there is to know about snow? Here is your chance to do fun experi-

For over 30 years River Action has been dedicated to connecting people to the river. Our supporters help us to improve the quality of water that flows down the river. They help us to instill a love of the river through encourag-ing participation in many activities that involve the river. Plus, River Action encourages educational programs that help our residents better understand river related issues and concerns.

Complete and mail in the form below to 822 E. River Drive, Davenport, IA 52803

or go to: www.riveraction.org

and click on membership!

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With each NEW or renewed membership you will receive discounts on educational programs, a FREE subscription to the eddy

Magazine, and (while quantities last) a 2016 calendar featuring images by Heidi Brandt

Fine Art Photography.

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ments and learn all about snowflakes. Then, warm up with some hot cocoa by the fire and paint your own wintery themed art on canvas in a guided step-by-step painting experience! Cost is $5 per painting. Please call to pre-register.

Winter Youth Day CampsMonday, Tuesday, Wednesday, December 21, 22, 23, Nahant Marsh Ed Center, 563-323-5196Check website for details, www.nahantmarsh.org

River Action’s Environmental Book Club - No book club meeting in DecemberThe Book club is open to the public and meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month, January through November at 7pm at the River Action office. For more information, visit www.riveraction.org or call 563-322-2969.

JanuaryTour of the Historic Clock Tower buildingSaturdays in January (2nd, 16th, 23rd 30th) & February (6th, 13th), 10-11:30amA tour of the historic clock tower building will be offered from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. These tours begin at the Mississippi River Visitor Center on Arsenal Island, Rock Island, IL. The tour includes climbing 12 flights of stairs at a moderate pace, so good walking shoes are recom-mended. Please call 309-794-5338 for more informa-tion or to make reservations.

Bald Eagle Days Friday, Saturday & Sunday, January 8-10, QCCA Expo Center, Rock Island, IL, 309-788-5912Shows include Birds of Prey, Niabi Zoo Exotic Animals, Pella Wildlife Company, 20-ft climbing Tower, and over 100 display booths, and more. Adults $6, kids $1, kids under 6 free. www.qccaexpocenter.com

Pollinator Power Winter SeriesSaturdays, January 9 -23, 10–11am, Members: $7, Non-members $10, Nahant Marsh Education Center, 4220 Wapello Ave, Davenport, IA, 563-323-5196This series will be covering a variety of topics relating to pollinator species and pollinator conservation. Call for details

River Action’s Environmental Book ClubTuesday, January 27, 7pm, River Action office, 822 E River Dr, Davenport, IA 563-322-2969Book to be announced. River Action is dedicated to foster-ing the environmental, eco-nomic, & cultural vitality of the Mississippi River and its riverfront. The book discus-sions are free and open to the public.

eddy magazine november 2015

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